Welcome, once again to our Bible study program.
Today we are discussing Circumcision and
Christian baptism. Our focus is on the validity of the argument that Christian baptism
is a continuation or fulfilment of circumcision of the Old Testament.
To start our study, let us have an overall
picture of circumcision.
Circumcision is a religious rite prescribed in
the Hebrew Bible. It is mentioned nearly one hundred times in the Bible.
For the Jewish people it is an integral part of
the Abrahamic covenant.
Circumcision was enjoined upon the Biblical
patriarch Abraham, his descendants and their slaves as "a sign of the
covenant" between God and him (Genesis
17:11).
Thus it is commonly observed by two Abrahamic
religions, Judaism and Islam.